200K, P500K Envelopes Given To Pro-Arroyo Lawmakers To Protect GMA from Impeachment?

[Galactus]

Malapit na ring mapuno yung dapat mapuno. Kung ako lang talaga, ipapa-aresto kung yung mga kawatan at ipapa-firing squad sa Luneta...tapos PAGC pa ang inatasang mag-imbestiga! Eh ang primary mandate ng PAGC only covers presidential appointees, and their report is subject pa to Malacanang approval.

Lutong Macao na naman ang lalabas nito. Kung nadedbol sana si Fat Bast*rd, eh di sana walang payolang nangyari.

[shadow]

ayan oh! wala naman palang mali sa ginawa nila eh..

Acting DoJ chief sees nothing wrong with Palace cash gift

Acting Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera does not see anything illegal in the cash handouts given to lawmakers and local officials after a meeting with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacañang and finds no ground for anybody’s prosecution. Devanadera told the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Tuesday night that the source of the money had not been traced and no unlawful reason for gifts had been established.
None of those who got the money said they had been asked to do something illegal in return, she said.
“Not per se illegal,” Devanadera said when asked if the giving of cash was against the law, but she added that she was not aware of the circumstances surrounding the event.
“The element of any crime, would be for example, I am giving the money to bribe. But nobody has said this,” she said.
Asked if the giving of money in Malacañang constituted an illegal act, Devanadera said the venue was not essential.
“The nature of the place is not an element of the crime. The place is not an element of the crime,” she said.
Devanadera said she had no personal knowledge of where the money came from.
As for the prosecution of those involved, Devanadera said it would be difficult considering that the source of the money remained unidentified.
“The person was not identified, so how do you do it? I cannot run after a John Doe,” she said.
Devanadera also does not think that the officials who accepted the cash gift could be held liable for violating the code of ethics.
“It must be specific that it is being given to undertake something illegal,” she said.
Devanadera also wondered if the recipients did not ask why they were being offered money and added that she thought it must be because they did not think the money was for something illegal.
At least two provincial governors and several congressmen have reported that they received cash ranging from P200,000 to P500,000 after a meeting last week with the President in Malacañang.
Poll spending illegal
At the Commission on Elections, acting Chair Resurreccion Z. Borra reacted to reports that the cash gifts were for the barangay (village) elections on Oct. 29. Borra said that the law barred the use of public funds for the balloting because it should be a nonpartisan activity.
Any public official found guilty of that offense, he said, could be punished with imprisonment of from one to six years, perpetual disqualification from holding public office and be deprived of the right of suffrage.

“Definitely it is prohibited ... Under the law, barangay elections are supposed to be nonpartisan,” Borra said.
Public funds, he said, could be used for barangay projects. If the projects involve public works then they would still be within the public works ban, which is set by law 10 days before the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council, SK) elections.

In which case, public officials who would want to use these “cash gifts” for public works projects must first seek an exemption from the ban.
Ingenious in politics
While the law prohibits the use of such funds for the barangay elections, the Comelec knows that in reality, they are still being utilized in secrecy, according to Borra.

“Filipinos are most ingenious when it comes to their politics,” he said.
Such an offense, Borra said, can be reported to the Comelec. The problem with these cases, he said, is that the Comelec usually has a hard time getting witnesses at the barangay level.
“Once a case is filed, there are no more witnesses,” said Borra.

Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio said over the weekend that he received P500,000 from Malacañang purportedly for the barangay elections and barangay projects.

[shadow]

totoo ba ito? :question:

‘Angry, hurt’ President orders probe of doles

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered an internal investigation of the purported distribution of money to congressmen and local officials as early as last week, according to her lieutenants. In a press conference Wednesday, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the President was “angry” and “hurt” by insinuations that she had tolerated the incident.
They said that as early as Oct. 12, or the day after bags of money were purportedly given out, she ordered the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) to conduct “a thorough investigation.”
Said Puno, who is also Ms Arroyo’s adviser on political affairs: “Now, for those that are suspecting that this is an invention after the fact, please interview [PAGC Chair] Connie de Guzman. She can tell you are the media people who interviewed her on an off-the-record basis on Friday, [and] before whom she admitted that she had been directed to make an investigation to erase doubts.”
But the controversy over how congressmen and local officials were purportedly “fixed” to ensure the junking of the latest impeachment complaint against Ms Arroyo has become so intense that certain senators started talking resignation.
In a text message sent to reporters Wednesday afternoon, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel said: “Official corruption is hemorrhaging the Philippines. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is unable to stanch it. Her misgovernance pushes the Philippines on the brink of national upheaval. She should resign and turn over the government to Vice President [Noli] de Castro as caretaker until 2010.”
Not gov’t funds
Bunye said the “scope” of the investigation would be “to determine who was responsible for this alleged incident, and to determine the source.”
“We would like to assure you that at this point, no government funds changed hands,” he said.
Bunye also said the PAGC did not disclose the investigation to the media in accordance with the rules of confidentiality governing the commission.
“The PAGC has not made any announcement, but I have been authorized by the President to make the announcement,” he said, adding that the results of the inquiry would be made public only by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.
Puno said Ms Arroyo had immediately acted on the matter to clear the air.
“She was also a little unhappy because of the perception or the accusations that she’s not doing anything and allowing all of these things, [which] needed to be corrected, to go on without question,” he said.
No timetable was given by the President, but Bunye issued an assurance that the Palace would not tolerate sacred cows.
“The parameters [laid out by the President] are very clear: The PAGC is mandated to find out, first, the source of the funds, and second, who are responsible for giving the funds,” he said, adding:
“A definite finding will be forthcoming.”
At a loss
On Tuesday, when asked by the Philippine Daily Inquirer about Ms Arroyo’s continuing silence over the purported distribution of money bags, Puno sent this text message: “She will [make a statement] very soon. Nagtatanong (She’s asking). Galit na galit (She’s very angry).”
Asked Wednesday to explain what he meant, Puno said: “She was asking because there were different statements coming out. None of us knew what was going on, honestly. So people were making statements, and she was wondering where everybody was getting their comments from, and wanted to find out what, if anything, anybody knew.”
Puno said the President herself was at a loss about the matter:
“Frankly, honestly, none of us had a clue about what was going on. And she was upset that there was not more discussion going on, and disclosure in an organized fashion [to the] media, which is why, I suppose, she asked Secretary Bunye to make the announcement [about the PAGC investigation].
“Since we were all at a loss, I guess she wanted something really more substantive to be brought to you. And that is why she conferred with Secretary Bunye and decided to disclose that instruction that she made Friday.”
Only an option
While Pimentel was forthright in saying that Ms Arroyo should resign, Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan merely said resignation was an option for her to consider in the face of the latest blot on her administration’s public accountability record.
Pangilinan raised the supposed option in the course of reacting to the reported low morale among Marines as a result of the purported distribution of cash to congressmen and local executives.
“We have sunk so low in the last 20 years, unfortunately in the area of public accountability,” the senator said in a press conference. “I agree up to a certain extent that the occurrences in Malacañang are proof that the situation is at its saddest and most critical.”
Pangilinan said there was “a solution” to the problem: “Magbitiw sa tungkulin (Resign the post) and let the constitutional successor take over.”
“So in that sense, if there is real anxiety over the prospect of a civil war, it’s simple -- let us look at what constitutional options are available. Resignation is still available to avert a civil war, if it is true that that is what is being feared because of the allegations of corruption and bankruptcy in our political situation and leadership,” he said.
‘Reform now’
Other senators said their piece on how Ms Arroyo should address the situation.
According to Sen. Panfilo Lacson, time is running out on the President.
“The country cannot afford any more unconstitutional changing of the guard, lest we live up to become Asia’s most prominent ‘banana republic. I cannot help but give advice, unsolicited as it is, to Mrs. Arroyo: Reform now. Your time may be running out,” he said.
In Lacson’s view, what was troubling was that the people had become numb to “the spectacle of brazen stealing, shameless lying, and unprecedented hubris by any leader of this country.”
“If Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., an acknowledged supporter and ally of this administration, can speak of Mrs. Arroyo’s ‘numbness to corruption,’ what can the rest of our people think of their President?” Lacson said.
Sen. Francis Escudero said not only the Ombudsman but also the Anti-Money Laundering Council should look into the alleged bribes considering that the amounts mentioned went as high as P500,000.
“These withdrawals should have triggered a red flag from the banks. We have to get the serial numbers of the bundles of cash given in Malacanang,” Escudero said.
Upset
Puno answered in the affirmative when asked if the President was “upset” over the reportage on the purported distribution of cash, instead of her meeting with members of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP).
“Yes, exactly,” he said. “She was saying, ‘You know, that was an ULAP oath-taking affair. People were not even talking about the fact that the local officials were into a discussion with the Cabinet to discuss the development projects in their respective areas.’”
He said Ms Arroyo had lamented that “the substantive character of that day’s action was lost.”
As for the object of the President’s anger, Puno said she was being unfairly linked to the supposed attempt to bribe local officials into killing the impeachment complaint lodged against her by lawyer Roel Pulido.
“You might have noticed that so many scathing statements were made ... Everybody is human, and you will get hurt if you get very, very negative comments from a situation that is clearly unclear,” he said.
Puno also pointed out that Ms Arroyo’s order for an inquiry preceded the statement on Tuesday of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines calling on local officials to admit having received money from Malacañang, as Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio had done.
He said Ms Arroyo had at first deemed it unwise to issue an official reaction to the purported distribution of cash:
“No need for an official statement because to begin with, this was an affair of the different leagues. In the case of Congress, it was a meeting of Congress, so Congress is supposed to be the one to answer...”
He also said all the reports of bribery were from “congressmen insisting that the money came from the office of the Speaker.”
“So why will Malacañang [issue] an official statement in that regard?” he said.

[shadow]

nagkakabistuhan na...

Arroyo was present, says Manila solon

A preacher-congressman has added his voice to those bearing witness to the alleged cash handouts to politicians in Malacañang and for the first time came out with a testimony that the distribution was done in the presence of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante, listed in the House website as a “Minister of Gospel,” Wednesday admitted receiving five bundles of P100,000 each, or a total of P500,000, from a person wearing a barong shirt -- one of many involved in the distribution -- during a breakfast hosted by the President last Thursday.
Abante said Ms Arroyo herself was present during the distribution of cash.
“The men in barong came out and began handing out paper bags, the floral type, glossy,” the congressman said in a telephone interview.
He said the bundles of cash were right inside the paper bag with no more wrap or cover.
Abante said he did not think of it as a bribe. He said that as in the past election seasons, he assumed it was a form of assistance from the administration party “since the President is the head of the party.”
Ms Arroyo is the chair of the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, of which Abante is a member.
Nonetheless, Abante said he was willing to be investigated by the House committee on ethics as he joins Cebu City Rep. Antonio Cuenco among the ranks of congressmen who openly admitted receiving cash at the Palace.
“In fact, I’m even the vice chairman of the committee … I’m willing to inhibit myself and be investigated,” Abante said.
He declined to name who among his colleagues were with him at the Malacañang breakfast table. When he was told that Cuenco had admitted receiving P200,000, he said: “I think Congressman Cuenco was at my table.”
Explanation urged
With the controversy surrounding the distribution of funds, Abante said he was joining the call of Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio and Bulacan Gov. Joselito “Jonjon” Mendoza for Malacañang to come clean about the source of the money and its purpose.
He said the distribution of the money was all right, but added “they just have to explain where it came from and its purpose,” Abante said.
Abante said he came to Malacañang around 8 a.m. Ten minutes later, Ms Arroyo arrived with Joaquin Lagunera, acting head of the legislative liaison office.
“After we shook hands with the President I already wanted to leave…. I had a flight to Davao,” Abante said. “I called up somebody. I was told to stay,” he added.
Abante said he thought the lawmakers would be given their allotment release orders for projects in their districts.
“We were given the paper bags,” Abante said.
Arroyo present at distribution
Abante said the President and Lagunera were around when the paper bags were distributed.
He said he did not see anything wrong with the distribution of the money and that the President did not say what she wanted in return for it.
Did his faith as a preacher play a role in his revelation? “Oh, yes. I can’t lie,” Abante said.
Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño Wednesday said he hoped to appeal to his colleagues’ sense of decency during a planned inquiry next month to extract confessions on who among them received cash gifts in Malacañang.
He said it would be more difficult for congressmen to lie in the presence of fellow lawmakers on the hefty amounts they had reportedly received during a gathering Ms Arroyo last Thursday.
“The atmosphere will be different if you tell a barefaced lie in front of your colleagues who know the truth,” he said in a weekly media forum in Quezon City.
Resolution calling for inquiry
Casiño on Tuesday co-sponsored a resolution seeking an investigation into the distribution of amounts ranging from P200,000 to P500,000 to congressmen in the Malacañang gathering amid a new impeachment initiative against the President.
Casiño admitted that the success of the investigation was a “long shot,” considering that around 190 majority congressmen were present during the occasion. He said they comprised a good majority in the House that could easily block the investigation.
“But we are willing to be surprised,” he said. “We are still hoping that there are those in the majority who still have that sense of decency, delicadeza (propriety), and still respect the institution.”
Saying the affair was a party matter, Davao City Rep. Prospero Nograles insisted that the lawmakers came only to throw their support behind the President. He said a “call to arms” was common within the coalition whenever there was a serious issue confronting the President.
That time, Speaker Jose de Venecia was laboring on whether to endorse the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Roel Pulido against Ms Arroyo.
After a series of consultations, he eventually inhibited himself from the process and tasked Deputy Speaker Raul del Mar to do the job.
Palace urged to conduct probe
In the Senate, Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan and Sen. Manuel Roxas II said in separate interviews they preferred that Malacañang conduct its own inquiry.
Pangilinan suggested that Ms Arroyo direct the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) to find out where the money came from.
The two Liberal Party senators said they do not want the Senate to investigate congressmen for bribery, due to inter-parliamentary courtesy.
“Our challenge to Malacañang is to conduct an investigation because this allegedly occurred right inside Malacañang,” Pangilinan said.
Asked whether he was in effect asking the President to investigate herself, he said: “No, I’m asking Malacañang through the President to investigate the incident.”
A measure of sincerity
“They do have investigative powers. They have the PAGC. Now if they do not use their powers, it would appear they are not interested in the truth. That’s when we can judge whether they are sincere or not,” he continued.
Roxas also mentioned the PAGC as the investigating body. He said the Senate did not have to conduct its own fact-finding investigation.
“The Senate does not need to act on this since Malacañang can no longer deny what happened,” he said. “Are they not interested to find out what happened? Are they not interested to get to the bottom of it? There is the PAGC. Why don’t they apply their powers, their iron fist,” said Roxas.
Earlier this week, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said he would introduce a resolution calling for a Senate inquiry into the Oct. 11 cash handouts in Malacañang. But Sen. Francis Escudero said he prefers that the Ombudsman conduct the investigation.
Pangilinan said he did not have confidence in the Ombudsman because of its failure to pin down for graft former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante in the billion-peso fertilizer scam, former Justice Secretary Hernando Perez and the Commission on Elections for the botched computerization deal with Mega-Pacific Corp.

[170kphlang]

gift o suhol, pera natin yan...

langya, i'm expecting na ang mga pera natin ay makikita ko sa improvemnts ng street lights, pothole free na kalye at iba pa, hindi sa kamay ng mga animal na to... hay...

[Galactus]

Whoever the Palace functionary was who said that the investigation should be done by the PAGC wasn't thinking right. Its mandate, AFAIK, covers only Presidential appointees. Since when did the mayors, governors and mayors become appointed officials?? PAGC would be acting way beyond their jurisdiction in this case.

Also, the PAGC recommendation is still subject to final review and approval by the President, through the Executive Secretary. Do they seriously believe that the public would accept the PAGC report hook, line and sinker?

Moro-moro lang to. Gagawa na nga lang ng palusot, sablay pa. Just like the supposed discreet investigation ordered by Pandak re: the NBN deal. Anong klaseng imbestigasyon yun, wala daw nakitang ebidensiya of bribery, eh hindi man lang ininterview yung major cast of characters! (Abalos, De Venecia III & Neri)

This really has to stop. The recipients should not justify the cash gift as a normal thing. Yung mga sundalo nga natin, ayaw dagdagan ang combat pay (P150 lang ang hinihingi!!!), tapos milyon-milyon ang binibigay sa mga #!*^&*!! na yan! Pandak really has her priorities off kilter.

[oliver1013]

Yes and at the end of the day habang ipit ka sa trapik may isang opisyal na may mga escort na ka cut sayo na muntik pa tamaan yung fender mo with matching duro sayo ng mga bodyguards kasi di ka pumreno agad. Sasabihin mo nalang sa srili mo T*#*na nyo tax ko na nga pinasususweldo sa inyo tapos may pa cash gift cash gift pa kayo..... ganyan talaga ang buhay

[XTO]

Kung pinaghirapan nila yang mga salaping yan eh hindi nila ipamimigay ng ganyan lang yan easy come, easy go ika nga…. Swerte swerte lang… wala na tayo magagawa diyan eh kaso me dumaldal…natural lang kasi me nalamangan

[rey_rya]

Ang hirap ng tumatanda............nakakahigh blood pag may nababasang mga kawalanghiyaan ng mga ibinoto ng Filipino

[snowbound]

were going to the dogs now, definitely! center of corruption na ang malacanang, meaning, from top to bottom corruption. i dont think there's still hope with this scenario.